Suction cleaner



Teb. 3,1942. s. R. CUMMINGS 2,271,545

' SUCTION cpEANER I Filed May s, 1937 INVINI'OR SlanlqyRC'umr/zirys iarougn heucauy extending slots 2o, 20 formed in the agitator body.

It is seen that there are in effect two helically extending rows, each row comprising a beating eiement, and a brushing element in alignment, and each row wrapped substantially around the agitator through an angle of 1 80 circumferentially. It is seen that the two helical rows converge at-lthe opposite ends of the agitator to substantially common end points and thatin the two rows the brush and heater elements are reversed end for end so that at each end a beater element has a substantially common end with a brush element.

In Figure 2, in particular, a preferred direction of rotation of the agitator is shown by ar rows, and to insure that the agitator will be so mounted in the cleaner nozzle that. this direction of rotation will be obtained, one end of the shaft I3 is flattened as shown in Figure 2 so that it is adapted to seat only in one end of the nozzle;

"In o'peration upon the rotation of the agitator the surface covering, which is lifted against the agitator by the reduced pressure within the noznow upon themarket will suffice for this purpose.

The agitator is characterized principally by its high efficiency in operation and by its relatively great quietness as compared to the usual suction cleaner rotary agitator of comparable efficiency.

I claim:

1. A-rotary agitator for a suction cleaner comprising :a rotatable elongated, round smoothsurfaced body,. rigid elongated and flexible agitating elements arranged in rows from common ends on said body, the advance element of each row which first contacts the surface covering undergoing cleaning in one direction of rotation being flexible to provide a resilient initial contact with the surface covering undergoing cleaning to displace said covering from said body, said rigid and flexible agitating elements being in helical alignment in each row.

2. A rotary agitator for suction cleaners comprising a rotatable body, a helically extending I agitating element on said body adapted to conzle of the cleaner, is depressed as it is contacted by the brushing and beating elements. Refer-. ring to Figure 5 'in' particular it is seen that as the agitator rotates it iscontacted first by relatively flexible brush element It (at the bottom right) The bristles of element l6 are surficiently strong to depress the surface 'covering after having overcome the initial inertia thereof and are also sufficiently flexible so that the depressionnot obtained instantaneously upon the contact therewith by the first bristle tuft.

Instead the covering depression builds up along the brush element to a maximum. Upon leaving the brush element ,the point of depression of the surface covering moves onto and along the aligned beater element to the agitator end. At the agitator end it is. necessary to reverse the direction of travel of the depression longitudimany of the agitator and that reversal of direction is taken up by the succeeding brush ele -'=r'nent it which is positioned in the rear of the beater element, or thereabove, as shown in Fig;

The relationship is such that the surface GOV, ering is separated from theforeign matter positioned therein through being vertically displaced downwardly with such rapidity and force as to separate it from the foreign matter as a result 'of the inertia thereof. This vertical dis:

placement accomplished specifically by the contact with the covering of successive-rows of' agitating" elements which depress the covering andwhich' are so arranged upon therotary agitator body that the point of depression constant-' ly moves back and forth along the lengthof the agitator.

Each row of agitating elements comprises a flexible brush element and a rigid beating element;

two rows are so positioned that each part of the surface covering acted upon is contacted by a brush and a beater element.

The brush element embodied in the present.

invention is not specifically new but instead many common and well known agitatorbrushes tact a surface covering undergoing cleaning at the leading end of said element to depress it'and to move the depression lengthwise of said body said elements including a rigid portion helically aligned with the remainder thereof.

-3. A rotary agitator for suction cleaners comprising a rotatable body adapted to be rotated in one direction when inserted into a cleaner nozzle in one relationship and in the opposite direction when inserted in a reversed relationship and including means to prevent insertion in a reversed relationship, helically extending helically aligned agitating elements on said body adapted to contact a lifted surface covering and to depress it with a depressionthat travels longitudinally'of said body as saidagitator rotates, the leading, portion of said element first to contact the surface covering being flexible to reduce the noise of operation with said body rotatingin one direction only. v Y

4. A rotaryagitator for a suction cleaner comprising a rotatable hollow cylindrical body, an

elongated opening in the surface of said body, an

said elongated opening, and lying in contact with the cylindrical wallJof said body amacent to said opening, said opening being toosmall to permit said element to pass therethrough, and means releasably securing said agitating element in place. 7

5. A rota-ryagltator for a suction cleaner comprising aarotatable hollow body, an elongatednelicallyextending opening in said -body, a helical 7 brush x-including flexiole bristles extended through-said opening and a rigid back formed with faces upon each side of said bristles curved to conlorm to said cylindrical body when extended helically therein and underlying the sides of said opening to prevent the outward displacement of said brush, and a removable closure member at the end of said body to prevent the entrance of foreign material into said body with said brush in place.

' STANLEY R. CUMMINGS. 

